It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not the holidays. Well, yes, the holidays too, but more importantly, 2022-23 college football bowl season.
Regular-season football has flown by but the excitement has only escalated with 43 college football bowl games featured this year. For some, a CFP run is at stake while others may be looking to end their season on a high note by hoisting a bowl trophy. Bowl games are scheduled to start Friday, December 16, and continue through to the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, January 9.
Here are some tips and college football bowl betting trends to help steer you in the right direction, whether it’s the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl.
Things To Look Out For In Bowl Game Bets
Players Not Playing In Bowl Games
Before placing a wager, check our college football injury report on a specific game’s matchup page to make sure there haven’t been any recent injuries to key players. For example, the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes will be without top RB TreVeyon Henderson, who is out with a broken foot and torn ligaments, for the Peach Bowl semifinal showdown against the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs.
Coaches Leaving, Players Opting Out
Handicapping bowl games can be tough this time of year because of changes in personnel and players opting to sit. If a coach has had a great season, he may end up being snagged by another school. Perhaps the departure of an assistant coach doesn’t have a direct impact but now is the time of year we see hires and fires. How do coaching changes impact the players? It’s something to consider.
It’s also the time of year that players opt to sit out of bowl games if they plan to make a run at getting picked up in the NFL draft. For example, the Tennessee Volunteers’ leading WR, Jalin Hyatt, has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and will skip the Orange Bowl. Familiar names from the past who’ve done this include LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. Keep a lookout as the game you’re targeting approaches.
Suspensions
It happens. It’s something you definitely don’t handicap for, so just do a quick search beforehand to confirm that no sudden suspensions have occurred. Past seasons saw four Nevada players issued suspensions after a fight following a loss to UNLV, while players from Alabama and Clemson were dealt one-year suspensions after failing a drug test.
College Football Bowl Guide Betting Trends
As always, college football bowl trends aren’t a be-all and end-all of information but CFB bowl trends can help you finalize a play or at least help keep you off a game. Here are some college football bowl trends to consider before placing your bets.
| Team | Wins |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 14 |
| Georgia | 14 |
| Iowa | 13 |
| Florida State | 13 |
| Oregon | 13 |
| LSU | 13 |
| Marshall | 13 |
| Boise State | 13 |
| Nebraska | 12 |
| Clemson | 12 |
| Team | Losses |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | 17 |
| Michigan | 14 |
| Virginia Tech | 13 |
| Miami | 12 |
| Kansas State | 12 |
| Oklahoma | 12 |
| Clemson | 12 |
| Auburn | 12 |
| Louisville | 11 |
| Texas A&M | 11 |
More College Football Bowl Betting Trends
| Team | OVERS |
|---|---|
| Florida | 15 |
| Michigan | 15 |
| West Virginia | 13 |
| Virginia Tech | 12 |
| Texas Tech | 11 |
| Florida State | 11 |
| North Carolina State | 11 |
| Virginia | 10 |
| Tennessee | 10 |
| USC | 10 |
| Team | UNDERS |
|---|---|
| Clemson | 18 |
| Ohio State | 14 |
| Georgia | 14 |
| Wisconsin | 14 |
| Miami | 14 |
| Virginia Tech | 13 |
| Texas | 13 |
| Oklahoma State | 12 |
| Oklahoma | 12 |
| Arkansas | 12 |
College Football Bowl Betting Trends Last 5 Seasons
| Bowl Game | Favorite SU | Favorite ATS | OVER Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Cure Bowl | 2-3 (40.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Boca Raton Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| New Mexico Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Independence Bowl | 2-3 (40.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| LendingTree Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) |
| New Orleans Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) |
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) |
| Armed Forces Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Gasparilla Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Hawaii Bowl | 1-4 (20.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) |
| Camellia Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) |
| Quick Lane Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Military Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 5-0 (100.0%) |
| Birmingham Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-2-1 (50.0%) |
| First Responder Bowl | 5-0 (100.0%) | 2-2-1 (50.0%) | 2-2-1 (50.0%) |
| Liberty Bowl | 2-3 (40.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Holiday Bowl | 1-4 (20.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Guaranteed Rate Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) |
| Pinstripe Bowl | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Cheez-It Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) |
| Alamo Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Mayo Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Music City Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Peach Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Las Vegas Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Orange Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) |
| Cotton Bowl | 5-0 (100.0%) | 4-0-1 (100.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Gator Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) |
| Sun Bowl | 5-0 (100.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) |
| Arizona Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Outback Bowl | 1-4 (20.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) | 2-2-1 (50.0%) |
| Citrus Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Fiesta Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 4-1 (80.0%) | 2-3 (40.0%) |
| Rose Bowl | 4-1 (80.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Sugar Bowl | 3-2 (60.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) |
| Texas Bowl | 2-3 (40.0%) | 1-4 (20.0%) | 3-2 (60.0%) |
| Championship Game | 3-2 (60.0%) | 2-2-1 (50.0%) | 5-0 (100.0%) |
Myrtle Beach Bowl only goes back to 2020
Frisco Bowl only goes back to 2017
Best College Bowl Betting Guide Tips
There are a million ways to handicap bowl games, but make sure to also look at the weather. Not every game is in a sunny place like Florida or the Bahamas (though they should be). You could also consider motivation as a factor. Although there is no metric for motivation, you could go off the simple idea that this is a college football team’s first bowl and they’ll give it everything they’ve got.
See Our Top College Football Betting Sites
And remember, the books are required to put a line on every single game but that does not mean you have to place a bet on every single game. Be selective and always remember to practice bankroll management. Football is almost over – let’s not go crazy with these last games of the college football season.
For more bowl-specific betting tips, be sure to follow our Best Bets Blog that we’ll be updating throughout bowl season.
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College Bowl Season Betting Guide FAQ
How many college football bowl games are there?
There are 42 college football bowl games in 2021-22. NCAAF bettors typically bet on the Sugar Bowl, the Rose Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, the Peach Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, and the Orange Bowl. Common NCAA football bowl game betting lines include a wide variety of wagers such as outrights and NCAAF bowl game OVER/UNDERs.
What is the schedule for the college football bowl games?
The schedule for the college football bowl games begins on Friday, December 17, 2021 with the Bahamas Bowl which features Toledo and Middle Tennessee State at Thomas Robinson Stadium, and runs until Tuesday, January 4, 2022 with the Texas Bowl which is between LSU and Kansas State at NRG Stadium.
Where can I watch college football bowl games?
CFB bettors can watch 2021-22 college football bowl games on a number of different television networks. Depending on which NCAA football bowl game you would like to watch, you are able to tune in to NCAAF bowl games live across the likes of ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ABC, as well as FOX.